I never heard of Air Berlin USA. Can anyone tell me the story about it? And does it have a connection to the Air Berlin of today? (I guess it probably does, the name is just a little too unique to be around the world twice)

Air Berlin started up in 1978 as an American company which flew services out of Berlin. However, only allied airlines were aloud to fly from Berlin until the reunification of Germany in 1990, thus the USA bit.

The first flights were to Florida via Brussels using the B707 but that service stopped in 1981 and instead they got the B732 which were on lease from Hapag Lloyd who had on order the B733. These were used for other types of charters.

In 1990 the airline was re-registered under German law and started today's services. Basically, from what I remember.

Air Berlin USA was founded in 1978 as an 100% subsidiary of the US agriculture company Lelco. The president was Kim Lundgren (maybe related to the owner of this site? ), who was a PanAm pilot if I remember right. General Manager was the former Berlin Manager of Modern Air, John McDonald. In 1979 the airline began charter flights out of Berlin-Tegel, using two ex TWA Boeing 707. Later a 737-200 was employed as well as some 737-300 and 400.

After the German reunification on 03 October 1990, German airlines were able to serve West Berlin for the first time since 1945. At the same time the special rights (cabotage) which the Allied carriers had in Berlin were reduced and eventually removed. In order to stay in Berlin, Air Berlin USA had to become a German company, which took place in November 1991.

You can find a lot more information in the book "Luftbrücken nach Berlin" from Hans von Przychowski as well as "Der deutsche Luftverkehr 1955-2000" from Karl-Dieter Seifert.

Quoting Sabena332 (Reply 4):When the carried the USA addition in their title, they still used to treat their employees like humans and not like crap.

How do you come to this conclusion. You stated in another thread that your girlfriend is a F/A - maybe for AB. If yes I know how you feel the same over here. But what else do you expect from the friendly charter airline with now Low Fare ambitions.

Once I applied for a job at Air Berlin, they invited me for an interview and I should watch a typical day in their office. I spent a few hours there with talking and watching but after the guy asked me if I would like to work for them, I pointed my finger on him and laughed in his face. I didn't know that slavery is still common nowadays.

Quoting Jorge1812 (Reply 5):You stated in another thread that your girlfriend is a F/A - maybe for AB.

She worked a few month for them, left also for the reason I stated above.

Quoting Jorge1812 (Reply 5):But what else do you expect from the friendly charter airline with now Low Fare ambitions.

As N1120A already wrote in reply # 6, being a charter/low-fare airline does not mean that you must treat your employees bad. No doubt, Air Berlin is a great airline to fly on but definitely not to work for.

Patrick

NZ1's mother is a disgusting crack-whore and his father is a worthless alcoholic!